Zuster Maria-Jozefa

Sister Maria-Jozefa (born Henriette Haeck; 30 September 1883 – 30 June 1961) was a Belgian nun, educator, and poet. She directed the Heilig Graf Instituut ('Holy Sepulchre Institute') in Turnhout and is credited with "Dutchifying" the institution.

Sister Maria-Jozefa
Born	Henriette Haeck (1883-09-30)30 September 1883 Turnhout, Belgium
Died	30 June 1961(1961-06-30) (aged 77) Maarssen, Netherlands
Education	Heilig Graf Instituut

Biography

Sister Maria-Jozefa was born Henriette Haeck on 30 September 1883 in Turnhout, Belgium.^[1][2] She was the eldest daughter of Pieter Haeck and Helena Haeck (née Lambrechts).^[3] Her younger brother Herman Haeck (1888–1960) became a Jesuit priest and author.^[3]

Maria-Jozefa was educated at the Heilig Graf Instituut (Holy Sepulchre Institute) in Turnhout from 1901,^[4] taking her perpetual vows as a Roman Catholic nun on 25 August 1905.^[3] From 1906, she directed the Institute.^[1][5]

As director, Maria-Jozefa "Dutchified" the school, translating the Flemish language textbooks into Dutch.^[1][6] She was supported by lay figures such as lawyer and politician Frans Van Cauwelaert.^[7] She also translated hymns and psalms into Dutch.^[3] She added a teacher training college and contributed articles on pedagogy to the Flemish Educational Journal.^[1]

In 1927, Sister Maria-Jozefa was appointed prioress of the newly founded priory near Nijmegen, Gelderland, Netherlands and left Flanders.^[8] She served here until retiring from education in 1957.^[1]

Sister Maria-Jozefa also wrote religious poetry and contributed works to the Flemish literary magazine Dietsche Warande (DW B) and Belfort.^[1]

Sister Maria-Jozefa died on 30 June 1961 in Maarssen, Utrecht, Netherlands.^[3][9]

In 2021, Sister Maria-Jozefa was included in a heritage walk in Turnhout.^[6][10]